The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted 12-B status to Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University at Nalbari in lower Assam.

The UGC provides financial assistance to eligible colleges, which are included under Section 2(f) and declared fit to receive central assistance (UGC grant) under Section 12 (B) of UGC Act, 1956, according to approved pattern of assistance under various schemes.

This makes the colleges eligible for central assistance from the Centre or any organisation receiving funds from the Centre.

The Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University had earlier sent a proposal to the UGC for granting 12-B status.

Subsequently, a committee of experts visited the university on September 23 and 24 in 2019 to consider the proposal.

The report of the UGC committee, along with the compliance submitted by the university, was placed before the UGC members for the consideration.

The UGC, in a letter to registrar of the university, spoke of the recommendations by the committee.

The committee considered the report of the inspection committee, along with the compliance submitted by the university.

It decided to recommend approval of 12 B status to the university.

It also advised the university to get NAAC accreditation at the earliest.

The committee also recommended that the faculty sanctioned and in position should be according to concerned statutory council(s)/UGC norms.”

The recommendations of the committee, along with the report of UGC committee, were placed before the Commission in its 545th meeting held on December 19, 2019.

Assam education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also lauded the move and said it will strengthen infrastructure and academic resource of the university.

“The decision by UGC to grant 12-B status to Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University in #Nalbari is heartening. The univ is now eligible for central assistance; it shall help strengthen infra & academic resources, giving it much-needed support. @HRDMinistry,' Sarma tweeted on Wednesday.

Dipak Kumar Sharma, the vice-chancellor of the university, told The Telegraph that the commission has a fulfilled a long-pending demand of the university.

“We have applied for it in 2014. Thanks to the government and the Commission for recognising it now. It is a significant step as from we can now accommodate research projects and also affiliate colleges under the university. We will also get financial assistance which will boost the infrastructure of the university,” Sharma said.

The university currently has around 700 students and six full-fledged post-graduate departments, apart from the different courses.

The university was set up with a notification by the government of Assam on May 24, 2011, under the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University Act, 2011.